Magnetically controlled torpedo firing mechanism



April 23, 1946. c. T. MINKLER 2,393,303

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED TORPEDO FIRING MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Iwembn": 'keqkrl'mzer April 23, 1946. c. T. MINKLER2,393,301

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED TORPEDQ FIRING MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 5. If M 1, EweQdZrr: v

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flair/W Patented Apr. 23, 1946 HTE water MAGNETICfiLLY CONTROLLEDTORPEDQ 8 Claims.

(Granted under the a amended April 30,

This invention relates to mechanism for firin the warhead of a torpedowithout actual contact between torpedo and target vessel through theeffect of the vessels magnetic field upon themechanism hereinafter to bedescribed.

Among the objects of this invention are:

To provide a torpedo firing device that will cause the explosion of atorpedo without the latter striking the target;

To provide a device of the type mentioned that will cause the explosionof the torpedo at the most vulnerable point of a target;

To provide a torpedo firing device that may be used with present typesof torpedoes and that can be given periodic tests to determine itsworkable condition.

The present invention is in general similar to that disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial No. 610,239, filed May 9, 1932, butdifiers therefrom in the construction of the mechanism that isresponsive to the magnetic field of a ship's hull.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view of m invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the water driven impeller with thehousing therefor in section;

Fig. 3 shows the solenoid used for moving the firing mechanism intooperative position;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the magnetically controlledthermionic tube;

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate the probable nature of the movements oftheelectrons in the tube of Fig. 5 when the magnetic field of the targetvessel is not acting and when it is acting, respectively,

Housing 3 for impeller 9 is disposed within the stream-lines of atorpedo body to prevent excessive drag, but it permits ready access ofthe water through which the torpedo is passing to the blades of impeller9 to cause rotation of the impeller. Shaft it transmits the rotatorymovement of impeller ii to an electric generator to which has a highvoltage winding ii and a low voltage winding i2. These windings normallymounted on the same shaft are being separated in Fig. 4 for purposes ofclarity of illustration and marked, respectively, H and L in thatfigure. Winding ii supplies the potential for plate it of triode I d andanode GS of magnetically controlled tube it. The winding l2 supplies thefilament currents for both tubes and also the current for coil I? whichsets up a magnetic field within tube It. With the elements of tube itsuitably adjusted the flow of electrons from filament 3% to anode itwould normally be along or March 3, 1.883, as

. downwardly the end of pawl lever 28 adjacent radial lines as indicatedin Fig. 6; but when current flows in coil ll 9. whirling motion isimparted to the electrons, as indicated in Fig. 7, which, withsuillcient intensity ofcurrent in coil li, will efiectually prevent anyelectrons from reaching the anode it.

Across field coil it of generator M is connected a gas tube It in serieswith a coil 29 wound to oppose coil it when energized. After the torpedohas been launched the speed of impeller 9 gradually increases andconsequently drives generator (it at increasingl higher speeds, but whenthe generated voltage exceeds a predetermined value current passesthrough gas tube i9 and coil 20 which reduces the magnetic field due towinding l8 and so limits the output of the generator to'predeterminedvalues.

A potential divider 2! is provided to adjustably determine the averagepotential of circuits supplied by generator l2 relative to circuitssupplied by generator ii. B means of the potential divider 2i, workingin conjunction with the condenser 36, the grid 23 is maintainedsuiilciently negative to block the tube iii, when no current flowsthrough the anode id of tube it, thereby preventing a flow of currentthrough the solenoid 2t. Adjacent the solenoid it is mounted a bellcrank lever 26 having one end disposed to be contacted by core 26 of thesolenoid and its other arm disposed under one end of a lever ii that ispivoted between its ends and has its other end lying upon a pawl bar 28.Upon a shaft i l that is geared to shaft iii is mounted a toothed wheel29 adjacent the lug 3K9 on pawl bar 28, which bar is pivotally mountedon a lever that is rockable about pivot 32 and has an arm is disposed toactuate the torpedo firing element (not shown).

Normally the magnetic field set up by coil i1! prevents any of theelectrons given off by filament 3% of tube it from reaching the anode itthereof, the anode being in the form of a cylinder coaxial with thefilament 3 3. However, when a torpedo equipped with my present inventioncomes within the magnetic influence of a ship's hull, the magnetic fieldwithin the tube it is distorted from that normally produced by the coilll, so that of coil ii is no longer effective in preventing the passageof electrons to anode i5, and current fiows in the anode circuit of tubeit. The readjustment of potential occasioned thereby, operating throughcondenser 36 and resistor 31 upon the grid 23, unblocks the tube it andenergizes solenoid 26. When current flows through solenoid 26 core 26 ismoved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, rocking lever 25 on its pivotwhich in turn rocks lever 21 and thereby moves thereto, thus causing lug30 to engage the teeth 01 wheel 29. The thrust of wheel 29 against lever28 rocks lever 3| on its pivot in the direction indicated by the arrowand moves arm 3'3 thereof against the firing element or the torpedofiring mechanism and thereby causes the explosion of the torpedo.

It is apparent that with this invention it is not necessary that atorpedo strike the target to cause the firing of the torpedo. Further,the small delays inherent in the system permit the torpedo to move to aposition directly under the ship before the explosion occurs, therebyattacking the vessel in its most vulnerable part and utilizing to theirfullest extent both the detonation and compression waves.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of myinvention and that various changes in construction, proportion andarrangement of partsmay be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, an impellerdisposed to be driven by water through which the torpedo is passing, asource of current actuated thereby, a toothed wheel also driven by saidimpeller, a device to actuate said firing element and having a portionengageable by said wheel, means including a triode tube to cause suchengagement, said tube being biased normally to prevent fiow of platecurrent whereby said means would be operated and a magneticallycontrolled thermionic tube operatively connected to said source andhaving an anode connected to the grid of said triode, said magneticallycontrolled tube being adjusted to prevent flow oi anode currenttherethrough but adapted to respond to the magnetic field of a shipshull whereupon the anode current 01' said magnetically controlled tubeovercomes the bias or said triode and causes the actuation of saidfiring element.

2. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofelectric current actuatable by water through which the torpedo passes, atriode tube operatively connected to said source and normally biasedthereby to prevent the flow of plate current, means to operate the saidfiring element connected to be actuated by the plate current from saidtriode and a magnetically controlled thermionic device having an anodeconnected to the grid of said triode whereby when within the magneticfield of a ships hull the negative bias of the grid of said triode willbe overcome and current will be caused to flow through said means toactuate said element.

3. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofelectric current actuatable by water through which the torpedo passes,

a triode tube operatively connected to said source and normally biasedthereby to prevent fiow to plate current, means to operate the saidfiring element connected to be actuated by the plate current from saidtriode and a magnetically controlled thermionic device having acylindrical anode. a cathode disposed axially of said anode,

said anode and cathode being suitably biased by said source and saidanode being connected to the grid of said triode, and a current carryingcoil connected to said source and disposed to control the electron fiowfrom said anode to said cathode whereby when within the magnetic fieldor a ships hull the negative bias of the grid of said triode will beovercome and current caused to fiow through said means to actuate saidelement.

4. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofelectric current actuatable by water through which the torpedo passes, atriode tube operatively connected to said source and normally biasedthereby to prevent flow of plate current, means to operate the saidfiring element connected to be actuated by the plate current from saidtriode and magnetic means having a definite magnetic field controllingan electron stream responsive to deformation of said definite field byan exterior magnetic field to cause fiow of current in the plate circuitof said triode when in the magnetic field of a ships hull.

5. In a device of the class described, means to actuate the firingelement of a torpedo, a solenoid disposed to cause said means to actuatesaid element, a triode tube having its plate connected to said solenoid,said tube being normally biased to the blocking point, magneticallycontrolled means to overcome said biasing, said last mentioned meanshaving a magnetic field control ling an electron stream and beingoperative to overcome said biasing under the magnetic field deforminginfluence of the magnetic field of a ships hull, a source of current tooperate said triode'and said magnetically controlled means and meansoperatable by water through which the torpedo passes to render saidsource operative.

6. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofcurrent actuatable by the water through which the torpedo passes, atriode, circuits operatively connecting said triode to said sourcenormally to block the fiow of plate current, and an electron streamdevice responsive to an external magnetic field to unblock the triodeand permit plate current to fiow.

7. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofcurrent actuatable by the water through which the torpedo passes, atriode, circuits operatively connecting said triode to said sourcenormally to block the fiow of plate current, an electron stream deviceresponsive to an external magnetic field to unblock the triode andpermit plate current to fiow, and means to actuate the firing elementoperated by said plate current.

8. In mechanism to actuate the firing element of a torpedo, a source ofelectric current actuatable by water through which the torpedo passes, atriode tube operatively connected to said source and normally :biasedthereby to prevent flow of plate current, means to operate the saidfiring element connected to be actuated by the plate -current from saidtriode, a magnetron tube including means to produce a magnetic field insaid magnetron to prevent fiow of current there through, the result andfield in said magnetron being deformable by a magnetic field produced bythe proximity of a ships hull to permit current to pass through saidmagnetron, and means i to apply current from said magnetron to saidtriode to unblock the triode and permit current to pass.

CHESTER T. NHNKLER.

